Statement from state Rep. La'Tasha D. Mayes on Medicaid coverage of abortion care in Pennsylvania Read more
HARRISBURG, July 23 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury issued the following statement after voting today to pass H.B. 1042 – legislation that would replace the automatic life without parole sentence for second-degree murder with sentencing linked to an offender’s level of culpability: “After finding that an automatic life without parole sentence for second-degree murder violates the state constitution’s prohibition on cruel punishments, our state high court asked lawmakers to develop a fairer system for imposing sentencing in these cases, which involve offenders who commit underlying felonies that result in a death. “I’m satisfied that our response today in passing H.B. 1042 strikes the right balance between maintaining accountability for these crimes and delivering individualized justice that is tailored to a defendant’s culpability. “We can be thoughtful in our sentencing without sacrificing the demands of justice. In fact, sentencing based on an individual, case-by-case analysis of the defendant’s personal role, intent and culpability is already the practice in many states. “The proposed legislation, which would require judges to consider a defendant’s individual culpability and circumstances, would allow for fairer, more responsible sentencing that recognizes that defendants in felony murder cases have widely different degrees of involvement and culpability. Read more
$6.5 million in grants awarded to community organizations within Mayes’ district Read more
“If workers can’t afford to live near their jobs, everyone pays a price – workers lack mobility in switching jobs, employers struggle to find workers and residents lack the services they need,” said state Rep. Jen Mazzocco, who represents portions of Allegheny County and co-hosted a House Majority Policy Committee roundtable and tour on the topic. “Building location-efficient housing not only unites our neighborhoods but also makes our communities stronger and more economically resilient.” Read more
HARRISBURG, July 21 – Legislation introduced by state Rep. Abigail Salisbury and signed into law Monday will clear the way for employees of certain state licensees to work remotely, improving convenience for consumers and making it easier for employers to hire and retain workers. Act 35 of 2026 – signed by the governor on Monday – will permit employees whose employers are licensed under the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act to work from off-site locations. “Technology is changing the way we do business, and our state employment laws need to keep pace,” Salisbury said. “Allowing these employees to work remotely will allow consumers to get help when they need it – even if a branch office is closed – and will help employers recruit and retain talented workers. The new law will also help workers in the field by eliminating commuting and other costs and providing them greater flexibility to navigate family and other life responsibilities.” Salisbury introduced the legislation together with state Rep. Tim Twardzik, R-Schuylkill. Read more
"This funding is a direct investment in our local economy and the people who keep it running," said state Rep. Anita Kulik, D-Allegheny. "From paving to packaging to manufacturing, these projects will create jobs and help our businesses grow right here at home." Read more
“These dollars will be funding projects to keep vulnerable residents safer, improve access to state-of-the-art healthcare resources and expand our urban agriculture capabilities,” Salisbury said. “In addition to fighting food insecurity, the new agriculture hub in Wilkinsburg is going to bring new workforce development and educational opportunities. The funding to POWER House in Swissvale will keep vulnerable residents safer and more comfortable as they transition out of recovery.“I’m excited to see all the funding take root, and I’m grateful to the governor and our local partners for helping to bring it home.” Read more
PITTSBURGH, July 16 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, today welcomed $6 million in grant funding from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program to community revitalization projects in her legislative district. “Aging buildings provide prime opportunities to revitalize our community through the creation of new commercial and residential spaces,” said Powell. “This funding will bring new opportunities to our community and continue our region’s development into a place people are proud to call their home. “I look forward to seeing these developments come to fruition, and I will keep working to help projects like these that create opportunities for the future of our community.” The projects supported with this funding include: $5 million to MI Strip Works LLC for the creation of Brickworks, a 3.5-acre, two-city block residential development in the Strip District that will include two multi-purpose, multi-family buildings, each with residential units and in-building parking. $500,000 to 358 Butler LLC for restoration of three existing buildings in Etna to create a mixed-use development of residential and commercial storefronts. $500,000 to the Millvale Borough Development Corporation to cover construction costs to complete exterior work and plumbing/sewer tap in at the 216 North Avenue Zero Energy Mixed-Use Hub. The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, Read more
McCANDLESS, July 16 – State Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny, today announced $2.35 million in grant funding from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program to support two projects in the Town of McCandless – one aiding local youth recreation and the other benefiting first responders. North Allegheny School District will receive $1.25 million to renovate the school’s aquatics center, including upgrades to extend the life of the existing diving and teaching pool, the creation of a separate diving well, and expansion of spectator and locker areas. “North Allegheny’s aquatics center helps keep many of our local students and community members active and healthy,” Venkat said. “The swimming and diving teams at North Allegheny are frequent WPIAL champions, with the girls having 18 consecutive titles and the boys winning back-to-back PIAA state championships this year. “Athletics are crucial for many of our students, and these funds will go a long way to help our student-athletes achieve these regional and state victories.” The other local grant in this announcement will award $1.1 million to the Allegheny Police and Fire Academy to support electrical work, replacing the academy’s existing generator and installing a new, larger generator to better support the entire building and its role as an emergency operations center. “Our first responders help keep Read more
“Occupational therapists assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help people with disabilities or developmental delays build or regain the skills they need for daily living and independence,” said state Rep. Brandon Markosek, D-Allegheny. “I am proud to see my bill become law because it will expand patient access to care and support professionals working in the field. I appreciate partnering with Senator Boscola to pass my bill through both chambers.” Read more
HARRISBURG, July 1 – The Pennsylvania House Finance Committee heard testimony Tuesday on state Rep. Abigail Salisbury’s legislation that would remove a major obstacle that prevents many lower-income houses of worship and other community groups from obtaining needed security funding. Salisbury said she drafted H.B. 2639 – which would eliminate the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund’s 33% match requirement for grants ranging from $25,000 to $75,000 if a nonprofit’s annual revenue is less than $250,000 – after seeing the difficulty a church in her own district faced attempting to meet the requirement. “After the attempted shooting at Jesus’ Dwelling Place in North Braddock, the church attempted to strengthen security, but struggled for months attempting to raise the required 33% match required for a state security grant,” Salisbury said. “It took a year and a half to finally get the necessary arrangements in place, and during that time, congregants were left to wait and wonder if they would be safe from another attack. “No one should ever have to gamble on their safety or the safety of their loved ones simply because their chosen house of worship, cultural club, or other community group has a smaller budget. Eliminating the match requirement for these groups would ensure members of all community groups have the protections they deserve.” The committee heard testimony from two Read more
HARRISBURG, June 17 – The Pennsylvania House on Wednesday passed H.B. 1944, which would protect individuals who help another person in the event of a drug or alcohol overdose, announced state Reps. Paul Friel and Emily Kinkead, who sponsored the bill. House Bill 1944 , which passed with broad bipartisan support , would protect people, such as college students, from endangerment charges if they are administering aid to a person suffering an emergency overdose. “Creating a culture of safety on campus means removing the threat of disciplinary action so students can step up and help one another without hesitation,” said Friel, D-Chester . “When we eliminate the fear of punishment, we break down the biggest barrier to calling for emergency help, which ultimately saves lives.” “In a life-or-death crisis, hesitation can be fatal. Fear of legal repercussions should never stand in the way of a person doing the right thing,” said Kinkead, D-Allegheny . “This legislation guarantees that anyone who steps forward to help someone experiencing an overdose or alcohol poisoning will be shielded from criminal liability. “By moving this legislation forward, we are ensuring that Pennsylvanians – especially our youth – can protect their peers during an emergency without risking their own futures.” The representatives heard during a March public hearing that this legislation Read more
Legislation boosting, improving Special Education Contingency Fund advances to Senate Read more
BRADDOCK, June 15 – New funding of $950,000 will ensure that area residents have access to critical housing services and supports, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury announced today. Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said the funding from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency will support projects to help residents find affordable housing, stay in their homes or find safe housing in times of crisis. “A safe, secure place to call home isn’t a luxury – it’s an essential resource that provides stability for families, connects seniors to the communities they love and offers a safe haven for people in transition who are working to rebuild their lives,” Salisbury said. “The new funding will make sure more people in our district have the housing they need to thrive by funding repairs, safety and accessibility improvements, housing for people in crisis or transition and affordable rental housing for low-income families.” Salisbury said the following funding has been reserved: $200,000 to Samantha Dye for the POWER House residential treatment facility in Swissvale that provides safe housing for women in early recovery. $200,000 to the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corp. to bolster the organization’s Homeowner Assistance and Repair Program. $200,000 to Za’kiyah House to create three affordable units for people transitioning from the organization’s residential programs. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 11 – Saying that residents should never have to fear for their safety where they gather to worship, celebrate shared culture, or collaborate on community projects, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury is preparing to introduce legislation that would eliminate a funding match requirement that makes it difficult for smaller, lower-income organizations to secure funding. Salisbury said she drafted the legislation, which would remove the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund’s 33% funding match requirement for groups below a certain revenue threshold, to address a funding challenge that can be an insurmountable obstacle for smaller groups. “Small faith-based and other nonprofit groups are just as vulnerable as larger organizations to targeted threats of violence, but they often don’t have the resources to come up with the matching funds required for a security grant,” said Salisbury, who is co-chair of the bicameral, bipartisan Pennsylvania Charitable Nonprofit Caucus. “My legislation would remove the 33% match requirement for grants ranging from $25,000 to $75,000 if the nonprofit’s annual revenue is less than $250,000. It’s time to ensure that these smaller groups have the protection they need and deserve.” Salisbury cited the 2024 attempted shooting at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock and the challenges the church has faced in the aftermath of that incident in attempting to raise Read more
Legislation cracking down on nonconsensual sharing of intimate images advances to Senate Read more
Legislation establishing penalties for CEOs of insurance companies responsible for harm Read more
HARRISBURG, June 3 – The Pennsylvania House today unanimously adopted Rep. Rob Matzie’s resolution ( H.R. 361 ) directing the state to study the financial costs and benefits of remaining part of the PJM Interconnection – the regional transmission organization that manages Pennsylvania’s electric grid. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said that a study is needed in light of recent spikes in electricity prices in some parts of the state, which have prompted concerns and calls for reform from lawmakers. “With calls for reform from House lawmakers and the governor, it’s time to take a closer look to ensure that staying with PJM is the best option,” Matzie said. “We hear every day from our constituents about the rising costs of energy. All options should be on the table, and all avenues should be explored. This study will give policy makers the facts and figures needed to make informed decisions moving forward.” Matzie said that the study – which will be conducted by the Joint State Government Commission – will examine the financial risks and benefits associated with PJM membership and evaluate the impact of PJM membership on residential, commercial and industrial electricity customers. The PJM Interconnection manages the electric transmission grid in all or part of 13 states and the District of Columbia. Read more
“By drawing on the experience and expertise of our established trappers, we can provide our youth with mentorships that offer hands-on training emphasizing responsible, lawful trapping techniques,” said state Rep. Anita Kulik, D-Allegheny. “Mentoring is key to recruiting and retaining younger participants and to continuing to build our trapping heritage as we look to the future.” Read more
“Today, the House came together to do something simple and compassionate: give people at the end of their life more choices about how they spend their final days,” state Rep. Dan Frankel said. “This bill is about easing suffering and preserving dignity for patients facing unimaginable circumstances.” Read more
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